New-York tribune., 1887-12-04

/ dldita Tor speaker III the AbN lth Congress HnftS
friends were full of enthusiasm and confidence,
and some OF them with liquor. Several eX-iepre-
sentanves on hand to present bis claims. The
New-York Democrats looked lonesome in the room
of the Committee Military Afairs where they as
sembled in solemn concave to confer with Mr..
Ranes, who said yesterday that he wouId not tako
The Doorkeepership on a gold plate but was ready
tonight to take II kind OF way il he could get
IT, The room OF the Committee on Rivers aud lIar-
bors was crowded with the adherents of Captain
Donel'on. Senator Harris, of Tennessee. and Cen
eral Prlther. Of Missouri, were on hand
to congratulate HIM if he succeeded,
or condole with him if he lost. His
friends were confident It being understood that
both Carlisle and Randall had decIared in LIS
favor.
To the surprise of a good many Democrats all If
the four Independents declined TO attend the
caucus. They had counted on Smith, of Wisconsin n,
and Anderson, of Iowa with a good deal of con-
fidence. Nne Democrats We're absent,
that the membership of the caucus was
cut down 10 1J9. Csrlise's denomination
for the Speakershlp fOreGope conclusion and
was carried by acclamaton,as the nomination
of General Clark TO be Clerk, and that OF eX-Con-
gressnaI Leedom to be Sergeant-lt-Arms
OPENING THE CONTEST FOR DOORKEEPER
motion to postpone the selection of D)orkeerer
until all he other officers had been nominated WAS
voted down by a large majority, a result whici
hailed by the DOnelsOn men as q
hopeful sign 1t to be good deal moro
difficult for the Democratic majority in tie
House to fix on a caucus candidate for boorkeep,r
than 1t for the French Legislature to elec,
President of that Republic. No less
than five candidates were placed in nom!-
nation Bourke Cochran presented Ito
claims Of Mr.. Ranes of Rochester. Ie
.c VI
before the caucus by Mr. Barry, OF that State and
Captain Donelson was nominated by Mr.. Washing
ton, of Tennessee, seconded by Mr.. Thulbee Of
Kentucky. Two other candidates, Mr.. Reeder. Of
Pennsylvania who ha5 hung his photograph on rho
wall opposite his headquarters, and Mr. House, OK
Michigan, were placed IN nomination.
MR.. BLOUNr HITS Mr.. BRECKENnIDGE
Then the fun began. Mr. Breckenridge. OF ir-
kansas. made u long speech against Mr.. Donel,On.
He was earnest. but Donelsons friends he eau
cus said that his speech ma le little impression,
because the charges which it contained had been
in pint for some days and, in their OPINION, had
been already satisfactorily answered.
Mr Blount. OF Georgia, took mp the cudsels for
Doneson. He Is nothing ii no, earnest, and aiera
time he and Brec ec>enrdge became invovet
in an angry colioquy. Both lost their temper aut
fnay Breckenridge Iltimated that IL was susplc-
iou- say the least to honorable me nber of
the rarity ready to come - the defence Of CaDtall
ponelson. A few words passed after this, but sD
rapidly that those ncgI-bg couid not understand
their import Thea NJ. Blount struck Alr. BrecS-
enrigc in the face and knocked him over
a chair Il was generally conceded by the sporting
members of the caucus that Blount entitled 10
first blood and the first knOckdown. Indeed
some OF them were inclined 10 think that 1t wls3
clean knockout. Sawart doorkeepers rushed 10
the spot and he two men were separated Mr..
Breclenrldgc went 10 wash OF his gore. and
thr meantime Mr. R!oult apologizad 10 the caucus
but carefully sand that he had no apology TO maas
t. Nj Breckenridge. lie scene was an anmated
and interesting one 10 me spectators Whc unf'rti
uateiy, were limited IN number
THE ENGLISH LANGUAG: I'll US2D.
Ii should not be understood that Brecten-
ridge lacks pluck. but he is light
weight physically compared with the
Georgia statesman. Aiter somc degrca
If order had been restored. MIR Randall took mo
noor and made a personal appeal to the caucus N
Donelson's behalf. declaring his belief IN Donel-
sons official integrity and hls knowledge OF hls
efficiency as an officer Al hali-pasJ 10 no moro
fights hld occurred and the prospect was that tho
caucus wOuld cOnfinc ltselt to battling Witl mo
English language.
BRECKENRIDGEs FRIENDS on THE FIGHr
Ii appears that the first version given OF tho
"scrimmage' between BOunt and Breckenridge
did the latter an injustice which probably was un-
Intentional in that II did not give him the credit
of landing a blow in one of BlOunts eyes and get
ting his fingers in BlountS hair One or two experts
declare that. if the men had not been separated
when they were, the Arkansas statesman woud
have had the Georgia stat csmans head in chanCcry
one of the new Louisiana members said that II thIs
was National politics lie wanted 10 90 nome, when
was pretty good as coming from Democratic KEEP
rcscutative fIom that State. -
The report Is not credited that Mr. Collins, OF
Massachusetts,. read a cablegram from Professor"
John l.. sullivan. Offering Bount ana Brecken-
riuge an engagement at better salaries than they
rasaiN ~ a
Uonclson led on the first ballot, but before the
result was announced, sufficient number OF votes
changed 10 liurt to nominate him. 30 the outs
will go III and the ms must go OUT out the HghO
has been an extremely bitter one. Dalton ior
Postmaster and Milburn for Chaplain were re-
nominated.
REPUBLICAN NOMINATION..
WASHINGTON, Dec 3.-The Republican momoers ofthe
House OF Representatives held their first caucus OF tho
session this afternoon OF the Republican representa-
ton Of l53 members. III were IN at
tendance None OF the four independent
membsrselect were present Representative
J. g. Cannon OF Illinois, and Representative Louis Me-
Comas Of Maryland. were respectively reelected to tho
posns which they held in the last Congress OF chair
man and secretary the Representative Nc
Kiney or Ohio, nominated Thomas b. Reed.
of Maine for Speaker and the nomna-
ticn WAS eonlrraei by acclanlation. Mr..
Reed made briot speech, in which he counseled
party harmony and predicted Republican victory In
the next Presidential election Nominations for the re-
naming officers OF tho next House then made as
follows: Edward McPherson OF Pennsylvania, byRcp
reseutative Bayne, for Clerk Daniel shepherd Of
Illinois, by Mr.. Adams. for sergeant-at-
Arms; W. I. Fitch, OF Ohio by Mr..
Buttrrworh. FOR Doorkseper; Charles ii. Grey, OF
Dakota by Mr. Nelson for postmaster, and Francis W.
Thomas, OF Indiana by Mr.. Browne. tor chaplain The
nominations were agreed to without debate, except III
the case OF Greer. whose nomination some little
Ss aos ia the dis :. House oces
The caucus authorized the chairman to appoint cou-
mittee of eleven Acnbsrs to he known 1.-THE Caucus
Committee and TO be charged with the duty OF calling
the caucus together whenever IL may be necessary.
DEMANDING ELECTION REF0RMS.
CLEVELAND, Dec 3 (SpeciaIl.-rhe Republican County
Central Committee this afternoon and decided to re-
quest the LEGISLATURE TO pass bill prohiDitins